Toxic Chemicals In Sunscreens And What You Can Do About It!
Hey everyone,
summer is here which means lots of hours playing outside and soaking in the sun. Sun exposure is important. Most of us are deficient in Vitamin D so we need some healthy sun. But, it’s different when we are spending hours at the pool with no shade. We definitely need to protect our skin when exposing ourselves and kids to prolonged sun exposure for sure!!
Our Skin is are largest organ which means everything we put on it is absorbed into our bloodstream. Harmful chemicals are everywhere in the cosmetic industry. It’s definitely a scary thought when it comes to stuff like sunscreen that we are constantly putting on our skin and children’s skin multiple times a day during the summer months. Children are much smaller than adults and their bodies are not able to eliminate toxins as efficiently as adults are. They are also developing so exposure to harmful chemicals can have detrimental affects on their health and development. Two common ingredients found in many sunscreens today include Retinyl Palmitate and Oxybenzone. Retinal Palmitate is a form of vitamin A and has been shown in government studies may speed up the development of skin tumors and lesions when exposed to sun. Oxybenzone which according to a 2008 study by the CDC 97% of Americans are exposed to in skincare products has shown to be linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage. Phthalates are also a huge concern not only in sunscreens, but also in many other skincare products such as lotions, shampoos, conditioners, powders, soaps, and body washes. The Journal of Pediatrics released a study in 2008 that showed high levels of phthalates in infants that were exposed to skincare products such as shampoos, soaps, lotions, and powders that contained these chemicals.
There is very little regulation in the cosmetic industry. As a nation we only ban 11 harmful chemicals compared to Europe that bans 1,400. The last regulation banning chemicals in cosmetics was passed in 1938. Think about how many chemicals we have developed since then! Pretty crazy stuff if you ask me. Most Americans trust that when you go to the store to buy a product it should be safe, however, that is far from the truth. Friends, I urge all of you to do your research! There are resources as well like the EWG( Environmental Working Group) Health Living app that you can download on your smart phones which serves as a great resource when buying products. Buy products from trusted companies that screen for safety such as Beautycounter! For sunscreen options some safe brands that I have used and love are the Badger sun stick, as well as Beautycounter's sunstick. They are easy to apply and very compact which make them great for travel. Other brands such as Thinksport and California Baby are also great companies with safe sunscreen options. Check out the EWG 2016 Best Sunscreens and worst sunscreen list for a list safe sunscreens and more info about toxins. Now you and your kids can enjoy that summer sun without damaging your health!!
Cheers :)
**Check out my recent morning news interview with Fox 21 local news about sunscreen toxins and bug repellent here **
